Begich Comments on Nominees to Head the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency

Published: March 5, 2013

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich Statement on the Nominations of Ernest Moniz and Gina McCarthy to be Secretary of Energy and EPA Administrator:

“I expect Ernest Moniz to be able to hit the ground running. In particular, I appreciate his leadership on the MIT report stating the U.S. should not ‘erect barriers to natural gas imports or exports.’ In his experience as a physicist and long-time faculty member at MIT, the White House Office of Science and Technology and as Under Secretary of DOE, he has been a supporter of a balanced, all-of-the-above energy strategy for our nation. I look forward to bringing him to Alaska and educating him about our vast energy resources, both renewable and non-renewable.

“Alaskans value clean air and clean water. But it’s no secret that the long arm of the EPA has great reach into the resource development industries at the heart of our state’s economy. I will very closely examine Gina McCarthy’s record and her approach to permitting resource development. I’ll be paying close attention to Ms. McCarthy’s confirmation process and to her answers about responsible development in Alaska and elsewhere.”